Copper Canyon

Mexico’s well known Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre) boasts statistics more impressive than the Grand Canyon in the United States. The Copper Canyon is deeper and, if you include the six canyons that make up the whole, covers more than four times the area. However, in our estimation, although the Copper Canyon’s figures are more dramatic, the Grand Canyon still wins the prize for beauty and grandeur. Nevertheless, the Copper Canyon is well worth visiting. Not only is the canyon very pretty, but there are also other reasons to make the journey: you have the opportunity to take a train ride that is lots of fun, you have the chance to stay in a hotel with a breathtaking perch on a cliff overlooking the canyon, and you have the rare privilege of seeing the reclusive Tarahumara Indians whose way of life has changed little in over a thousand years. You can make the trip any time of the year, but many prefer the fall when everything is very green and the waterfalls are gushing after the summer rains. Spring too is a lovely time to make the journey. If you go in winter, be sure to take warm clothing since the weather can be very cold and it can snow. In summer, if you hike down to the floor of the canyon, the weather is very hot and humid. Just remember, the canyon area is made up of two distinct climate zones, with the weather ranging from Alpine at the top of the canyon to subtropical at the floor. The only easy access to the canyon is by train, which gives you various options of where to leave from and where to stop along the route. In the itinerary below we have outlined a way to have the ultimate experience in a short length of time. RECOMMENDED PACING: We suggest two nights in El Fuerte (one before your train trip and one at the end of the train trip), and two nights in Barrancas at the Posada Mirador—a minimum of four nights total.